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New York Islanders Answering Five Questions From Start of Season

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: (l-r) Lou Lamoriello and Garth Snow of the New York Islanders look at the draft board prior to the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: (l-r) Lou Lamoriello and Garth Snow of the New York Islanders look at the draft board prior to the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 07: Joshua Ho-Sang #66 of the New York Islanders passes the puck against the Buffalo Sabres in the first period at Barclays Center on October 7, 2017 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Will There Be Room For Youth?

With the additions of Leo Komarov, Valtteri Filppula, Tom Kuhnhackl, Matt Martin, and Luca Sbisa to an already veteran-heavy roster, how were some of the Islanders talent kids going to get in?

With Devon Toews, Josh Ho-Sang, and Kieffer Bellows challenging for a roster spot in camp it was hard to see how the New York Islanders would find a way to fit them in. Or were they even going to fit them in?

As with any NHL team injuries came into play. Andrew Ladd has missed a ton of time, leading the Islanders to call up a combination of Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang.

Thomas Hickey has missed significant time through injury which allowed the Islanders to call up Devon Toews to the roster. Since being called up Toews has four points in 13 games. More importantly, he looks like an NHL even though he’s barely played a quarter of an NHL season.

While Michael Dal Colle a currently remains on the roster you’d have to believe that when Andrew Ladd gets back that he’ll be headed back to Bridgeport. That won’t be the case for Devon Toews.

Even when Thomas Hickey returns from injury you have to believe that the New York Islanders find a way to move Luca Sbisa off the roster to keep the 24-year-old Toews.

Answer: If the New York Islanders keep Devon Toews on the roster when Thomas Hickey comes back (they should) then the answer is “yes”. Using Dal Colle, Ho-Sang, and Toews to fill a vacant spot due to injury is NHL roster management 101. We all expect them to do that.

But making room for the kids when they impress (like Toews), is what we wanted to see.

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